Flat Rock for Zoas?

[Grimreaperz]

Okay so I was at a fellow reefers buying some frags and noticed his zoas were all on this flat thin brittle rock.

When I asked him where he got them he stated he makes them.

I asked out of what and all he said and would say is special cement....

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of what type of cement could be used for this application.

I have heard Portland Cement but the amount of different types of Portland Cement is ridiculous....

And I live in Canada so keep that in mind as some of the stuff that is readily available at a US home depot is no where to be found here so please be as precise with brands as possible.

If anyone can comment with exact types or locations to purchase and brands would be greatly appreciated!

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Marco rock cement is portland.
and
http://www.garf.org/class.html and this.....

And our Dear friend Paub, you can ask him..... https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/build-your-own-rock-for-practically-free.180/

I do believe the portland used must be free of plasticizers. So the marco cement is probably the easy no research go to

 

[Grimreaperz]

Awesome thanks so much! Here us a picture of his plugs which I believe are made of the same material just thicker

 

[Grimreaperz]

Is this stuff Okay?

Obviously I need to cure everything for minimum 45 days just curious if this stuff is Okay?

Here are some better pics of his plugs too

 

[Grimreaperz]

Bump what about quikrete

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Bump what about quikrete

I think so.... Its in Paul's thread here. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/build-your-own-rock-for-practically-free.279117/page-2

I belive it should be the stuff.
It needs to be cured as it leaches lime(kalwasser) when it new.

I use Quickcrete Mortar Mix. It's like 2 bucks for 5 lbs. Don't use any quicksetting cement or stuff with acrylic binders in it. This is the cheapest mortar there is and is for setting bricks.
I don't think a Supermodel could use a torch, it's probably a law. A Supermodel would use her hair drier and so should you, if you have a good one. I personally have no use for a hair drier.
If you feel you must use a propane torch, you have to do it outside with the wind blowing toward your Mother N Law. You would also need a bucket of water in case your Mother n Law is thirsty, but also because PVC goes on fire very easily and you need to put it out fast so you don't go running around looking for a fire extinguisher. A heat gun is safer and your hair drier may work. I don't like to talk about hair, it makes me sad.
Wear gloves if you are using mortar or you will be able to go on those commercials for the heartbreak of psoriasis. It will peel your skin. Not mine as I have real Man hands but if you have Supermodel hands, wear gloves.

 

[Grimreaperz]

So this is what he said about his "Special Cement" if this is true I may end up buying it off him but it really makes me curious as to what he is using....but depending on how much he sells it for as he says he is going to be marketing it.
I may buy some but if it's too much then back to DIY options I go

 

[Grimreaperz]

I am wondering if this may be a direction to go towards?

I searched Chemical Free Mortars. And this article came up.

http://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2015/10/non-toxic-grout-and-thinset-mortar.html

Which in turn pointed me to this list.

http://www.jamoinc.com/documents/techbulletin/Jamo LEED Certification.pdf

List of VOC Free Mortars. What VOC free means I am not 100% sure. But I am curious if there is a Mortar/Cement mix out there that doesn't need to be cured and is reef safe!

Would this potentially be a thread for the Chemistry forum?

 

[Lt Jeff]

Old trick when making rock out of cement: place the new plugs or rocks in your toilet tank. Every time you flush your toilet you do a water change. It's ok to do it with fresh water. Your rock/plugs will be ready sooner.

 

[Grimreaperz]

Old trick when making rock out of cement: place the new plugs or rocks in your toilet tank. Every time you flush your toilet you do a water change. It's ok to do it with fresh water. Your rock/plugs will be ready sooner.

Yeah not the direction I was heading if you read the picture I posted where he talked about his friends special sauce he stated it doesn't need to be cured.

Trying to find out what he could be using....

I know I can do it the typical way but curious to find out what he is using. Like I said may be a chemistry forum thread

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea its plasticizers users that are the bad ones. What is coming of the rock that needs curing is limewater/kalkwasser. Many that just drop it in are using smaller pieces and dont even notice the increase in PH and cal/alk. I large pieces its obviously going to leach more. Many in fact when they build a dry rock with marco don't notice the higher alk and ph either. But Ive observed it quite a bit helping with tanks. I mean how does a tank with no life have an alk of 9 and ph of 8.3(besides a low bioload not producing C02)
You can ask PaulB in the thread there. Also Garf is still around and you can contact them as well.

Thus as I mentioned before, sometimes its better to just but a known reef safe product, unless your totally just curious.

 

[Grimreaperz]

Yea its plasticizers users that are the bad ones. What is coming of the rock that needs curing is limewater/kalkwasser. Many that just drop it in are using smaller pieces and dont even notice the increase in PH and cal/alk. I large pieces its obviously going to leach more. Many in fact when they build a dry rock with marco don't notice the higher alk and ph either. But Ive observed it quite a bit helping with tanks. I mean how does a tank with no life have an alk of 9 and ph of 8.3(besides a low bioload not producing C02)
You can ask PaulB in the thread there. Also Garf is still around and you can contact them as well.

Thus as I mentioned before, sometimes its better to just but a known reef safe product, unless your totally just curious.

Yeah I'm just the type of person that is super curious and really want to know what he is using....you may be completely correct in the fact the pieces are just to small to make a difference hence why hey just throws it in.

I found some Raw Tavertine tile I am going to try out and besides that I may expierement with some different types of mortar.

I really appreciate the direction pointing and patience I will post on PaulB thread as well!

 

[cracker]

I used the portland cement & mixed it with tanks .something calcium based.to mix a thick slurry . The plugs are high in PH so needy to soak in fresh water for sometime. Mine took over a month in a 20 gal on the back porch with water changes. These were long.thick columns.so thin plugs would cure much more quickly. I like the toilet tank idea, constant flush with fresh water. Consider the portland cement as a glue to bind the substrate . There is a real good thread here at R2R on making live rock that gives you the recipe .